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The hidden epidemic : Uncovering incidental fatty liver disease and its metabolic comorbidities by datamining in a hospital data lake – A real-world cohort study

Karhiaho, Iiro P. ; Kurki, Samu H. ; Parviainen, Helka I. ; Kullamaa, Liisa ; Färkkilä, Martti A. ; Matikainen, Niina and Tuomi, Tiinamaija LU orcid (2024) In Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice 210.
Abstract

Aims: To identify individuals with incidental fatty liver disease (FLD), and to evaluate its prevalence, metabolic co-morbidities and impact on follow-up. Methods: We leveraged the data-lake of Helsinki Uusimaa Hospital district (Finland) with a population of 1.7 million (specialist and primary care). A phrase recognition script on abdominal imaging reports (2008–2020) identified/excluded FLD or cirrhosis; we extracted ICD-codes, laboratory and BMI data. Results: Excluding those with other liver diseases, the prevalence of FLD was 29% (steatosis yes/no, N=61,271/155,521; cirrhosis, N=3502). The false positive and negative rates were 5–6%. Only 1.6% of the FLD cases had the ICD code recorded and 32% had undergone full clinical evaluation... (More)

Aims: To identify individuals with incidental fatty liver disease (FLD), and to evaluate its prevalence, metabolic co-morbidities and impact on follow-up. Methods: We leveraged the data-lake of Helsinki Uusimaa Hospital district (Finland) with a population of 1.7 million (specialist and primary care). A phrase recognition script on abdominal imaging reports (2008–2020) identified/excluded FLD or cirrhosis; we extracted ICD-codes, laboratory and BMI data. Results: Excluding those with other liver diseases, the prevalence of FLD was 29% (steatosis yes/no, N=61,271/155,521; cirrhosis, N=3502). The false positive and negative rates were 5–6%. Only 1.6% of the FLD cases had the ICD code recorded and 32% had undergone full clinical evaluation for associated co-morbidities. Of the 35–65-year-old individuals with FLD, 20% had diabetes, 42% prediabetes and 28% a high liver fibrosis index. FLD was independently predicted by diabetes (OR 1.56, CI 1.46–1.66, p = 2.3 * 10^-41), BMI (1.46, 1.42–1.50, p = 1.7 * 10^-154) and plasma triglyceride level (1.5, 1.43–1.57, p = 3.5 * 10^-68). Alanine aminotransferase level mildly increased (1.12, 1.08–1.16, p = 2.2 * 10^-9) and high age decreased the risk (0.92, 0.89–0.94, p = 4.65*10^-09). Half of the cases had normal ALT. Conclusions: The incidental radiological finding of FLD is reliable and associated with metabolic risks but largely ignored, although it should lead to metabolic and hepatic follow-up.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Diabetes, Dyslipidemia, Fatty liver disease, Screening
in
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
volume
210
article number
111609
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:38479446
  • scopus:85187996781
ISSN
0168-8227
DOI
10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111609
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7650c45c-7001-4f9e-929a-0faebf18d891
date added to LUP
2024-04-03 08:47:53
date last changed
2024-04-17 10:55:49
@article{7650c45c-7001-4f9e-929a-0faebf18d891,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aims: To identify individuals with incidental fatty liver disease (FLD), and to evaluate its prevalence, metabolic co-morbidities and impact on follow-up. Methods: We leveraged the data-lake of Helsinki Uusimaa Hospital district (Finland) with a population of 1.7 million (specialist and primary care). A phrase recognition script on abdominal imaging reports (2008–2020) identified/excluded FLD or cirrhosis; we extracted ICD-codes, laboratory and BMI data. Results: Excluding those with other liver diseases, the prevalence of FLD was 29% (steatosis yes/no, N=61,271/155,521; cirrhosis, N=3502). The false positive and negative rates were 5–6%. Only 1.6% of the FLD cases had the ICD code recorded and 32% had undergone full clinical evaluation for associated co-morbidities. Of the 35–65-year-old individuals with FLD, 20% had diabetes, 42% prediabetes and 28% a high liver fibrosis index. FLD was independently predicted by diabetes (OR 1.56, CI 1.46–1.66, p = 2.3 * 10^-41), BMI (1.46, 1.42–1.50, p = 1.7 * 10^-154) and plasma triglyceride level (1.5, 1.43–1.57, p = 3.5 * 10^-68). Alanine aminotransferase level mildly increased (1.12, 1.08–1.16, p = 2.2 * 10^-9) and high age decreased the risk (0.92, 0.89–0.94, p = 4.65*10^-09). Half of the cases had normal ALT. Conclusions: The incidental radiological finding of FLD is reliable and associated with metabolic risks but largely ignored, although it should lead to metabolic and hepatic follow-up.</p>}},
  author       = {{Karhiaho, Iiro P. and Kurki, Samu H. and Parviainen, Helka I. and Kullamaa, Liisa and Färkkilä, Martti A. and Matikainen, Niina and Tuomi, Tiinamaija}},
  issn         = {{0168-8227}},
  keywords     = {{Diabetes; Dyslipidemia; Fatty liver disease; Screening}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice}},
  title        = {{The hidden epidemic : Uncovering incidental fatty liver disease and its metabolic comorbidities by datamining in a hospital data lake – A real-world cohort study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111609}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111609}},
  volume       = {{210}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}